Techlaunch™ Future Scientist Program – Student Competition

Each contestant presented their research with the objective of succinctly and effectively communicating their topic, findings and impact to a largely non-scientific lay audience in under eight minutes. Although only the oral presentation was assessed, the students also provided posters of their work to present after the main presentation period. This competition provides students the benefit of honing invaluable presentation skills and access to coaching from highly-placed corporate executives and entrepreneurs.

The following awards were given out at the event:

• Christina Verhagen ($1,000)
  Analysis of Pliocene core DVDP-11 for evidence of a vegetated Antarctic coastline
  Mentor: Dr. Sandra Passchier
• Alexa Aucoin ($600)
  The Ping-Pong Effect: Extinction Dynamics in Stochastic Populations with Migration
  Mentor: Eric Forgoston
• Blake Moore ($300)
  Gravitational Waves from Eccentric Binaries
  Mentor: Marc Favata